5 ways to make the most of your activity tracker

An activity tracker is an easy-to-use gadget that can monitor your fitness. Here are five useful tips on how to get the most out of your activity tracker.

17/11/2017

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5 ways to make the most of your activity tracker

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Activity trackers can count the number of steps you take

Activity trackers can count the number of steps you take

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Activity trackers – otherwise known as fitness trackers – can do some amazing things.

They monitor your movements, count the number of steps you take and track how many calories you’re burning. However, they can’t read your mind and don’t know everything about you.

These five tips will help you get the most out of your favourite activity tracker.

1. Enter all your personal information

If you want your activity tracker to give you the most accurate information, you need to tell it a little bit about yourself before you start using it.

Your age, sex, height and weight, for example, will enable the tracker to give you more accurate estimates of the number of steps you take, how far you’ve travelled and how many calories you’ve burned.

2. Check which wrist you’re wearing it on

If you’re right-handed, your right arm is your dominant arm and will move more than your left – and vice versa. Activity trackers are calibrated to take this into account. If your activity tracker gives you the option, tell it if you’re wearing it on your dominant wrist.

If it doesn’t, wear it on your non-dominant wrist for more accurate monitoring.

3. Don’t push yourself too hard

Your activity tracker may tell you 10,000 steps per day is a reasonable goal. And it may be reasonable for someone younger than you or someone not recovering from an injury, but is it reasonable for you?

Monitor your activity for a few days first. See how many steps you take and then set a reasonable goal.

If you walk 5000 steps, set a goal of 7000 and when you meet your goal, give yourself a small reward.

4. Adjust your activity tracker

Two people of the same sex and height may have different strides. Over the course of a day, small differences in the length of stride can add up to a big difference in the distance walked. Take the time to measure your stride and calibrate your tracker and you will get a more accurate distance reading.

For best results, measure the distance you cover in 20 paces and divide the distance by 20. If you use your tracker for jogging or running, adjust it for those activities, too.

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The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, medical or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.